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TIL Wilhelm Röntgen who discovered x-rays refused to patent his discovery as he ‘wanted mankind as a whole to benefit from practical applications of the same’

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NX7lb TIL in the 18th century, rich people usually owned a large wig for formal occasions and a smaller one to wear at home. Wigs were a status symbol and were also the target of thieves due to how costly some of them were. Those who couldn't afford wigs tried to make their real hair look like one.
eOBJ TIL dogs sneeze to communicate to other dogs that they’re not being aggressive
jNWDa TIL the King's doctor Johann Struensee seized power for over a year in 18th century Denmark. He managed to abolish slavery, abolish censorship of the press, and have an affair with the Queen before being ousted and executed in 1772
6EYdZ TIL Combining certain antidepressants with alcohol can cause acute kidney failure.
OGLx4 TIL that the names for Wales, Walloonia, Cornwall, Gaul, and many more, are related via one proto-germanic word meaning "foreigner"